Spain’s High Court has found Luis Rubiales, the former president of the Spanish Football Federation, guilty of sexual assault for kissing player Jenni Hermoso without her consent during the 2023 Women’s World Cup celebrations. Rubiales was ordered to pay a fine of €10,800 and banned from going within a 200-meter radius of Hermoso and from communicating with her for one year.

Rubiales had claimed that Hermoso had given her consent before he kissed her, describing the act as “an act of affection” and “something completely spontaneous.” However, Hermoso testified that she had not given permission and that the incident had “stained one of the happiest days of my life.”

“My boss was kissing me, and this shouldn’t happen in any social or work setting,” Hermoso told the court. “A kiss on the lips is only given when I decide so.”

Rubiales was acquitted of coercion, a charge related to allegations that he tried to pressure Hermoso into saying publicly that the kiss was consensual. Three of his former colleagues, Jorge Vilda, Rubén Rivera, and Albert Luque, were also cleared of coercion charges.

The incident sparked widespread outrage and triggered a “Me Too”-style movement in Spanish women’s football, with players seeking to combat sexism and achieve parity with their male peers. Rubiales resigned as president of the Spanish Football Federation in September 2023, following weeks of pressure to step down.